Processing conveyance for an agricultural baler with non-crop material releasing sieve

ABSTRACT

An agricultural baler includes a processing conveyance that is positioned between a pickup roll and a main bale chamber for conveying crop material from the pickup roll to the main bale chamber. The processing conveyance includes at least one of a bottom wall and side wall having at least one sieve with a plurality of openings extending through the sieve. The openings are sized and configured for allowing non-crop material to exit from the at least one processing conveyance through the openings.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/904,021, which also claims foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 toPCT/EP2014/064645 filed on Jul. 8, 2014 which claims priority to BelgianApplication BE2013/0481 filed Jul. 10, 2013, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to agricultural balers, and, moreparticularly, to the sub-assemblies on such balers used to pick up andconvey the crop material into the main bale chamber.

Description of the Related Art

Agricultural harvesting machines, such as balers, are used toconsolidate and package crop material so as to facilitate the storageand handling of the crop material for later use. In the case of hay, amower-conditioner is typically used to cut and condition the cropmaterial for windrow drying in the sun. In the case of straw, anagricultural combine discharges non-grain crop material from the rear ofthe combine defining the straw (such as wheat or oat straw) which is tobe picked up by the baler. The cut crop material is typically raked anddried, and a baler, such as a large square baler or round baler,straddles the windrows and travels along the windrows to pick up thecrop material and form it into bales.

On a large square baler, a pickup unit at the front of the baler gathersthe cut and windrowed crop material from the ground. The pickup unitincludes a pickup roll, and optionally may include other components suchas side shields, stub augers, wind guard, etc.

A packer unit is used to move the crop material from the pickup unit toa duct or pre-compression chamber. The packer unit forms a wad of cropwithin the pre-compression chamber which is then transferred to a mainbale chamber (for purposes of discussion, the charge of crop materialwithin the pre-compression chamber will be termed a “wad”, and thecharge of crop material after being compressed within the main balechamber will be termed a “flake”). Typically such a packer unit includespacker tines or forks to move the crop material from the pickup unitinto the pre-compression chamber. Instead of a packer unit it is alsoknown to use a rotor feeder or rotor cutter unit which chops the cropmaterial into smaller pieces.

A stuffer unit transfers the wad of crop material in charges from thepre-compression chamber to the main bale chamber. Typically such astuffer unit includes stuffer forks which are used to move the wad ofcrop material from the pre-compression chamber to the main bale chamber,in sequence with the reciprocating action of a plunger within the mainbale chamber.

In the main bale chamber, the plunger compresses the wad of cropmaterial into flakes to form a bale and, at the same time, graduallyadvances the bale toward the outlet of the bale chamber. When enoughflakes have been added and the bale reaches a full (or otherpredetermined) size, a number of knotters are actuated which wrap andtie twine, cord or the like around the bale while it is still in themain bale chamber. The twine is cut and the formed baled is ejected outthe back of the baler as a new bale is formed.

With a large square baler as described above, the pickup roll picks upcrop material and may also pick up non-crop material such as dust, dirt,stones, sticks, etc. The non-crop material may be conveyed through thepacker unit and pre-compression chamber to the main bale chamber, whereit becomes part of the formed bale. Such non-crop material has thepotential to damage and/or wear the internal workings of the baler, andalso is not desirable in the formed bale. For example, sand or stones inthe formed bales may be detrimental to livestock which eat the formedbales. Moreover, sand in the formed bales may be converted to glass whenthe bales are burned as fuel.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,393,137 discloses a biomass harvesting system forharvesting agricultural material. A collecting apron receives a windrowof biomass from a windrower. The windrower has an auger in a slottedhousing allowing dirt and particulate materials to be sifted out of thebiomass being transported there along. Collecting apron delivers on itsturn the harvested biomass to a pre-chopper where the biomass is reducedto smaller pieces to facilitate a uniform density of the final bale ofbiomass, upon which it is delivered to a pre-compression chamber wherethe predefined quantity of biomass is formed into an individual flakeand inserted into a compression chamber to form a bale.

What is needed in the art is an agricultural baler which eliminates atleast some of the non-crop material which is picked up by the pickuproll, prior to bale formation in the main bale chamber.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an agricultural baler having a processingconveyance (such as a pre-compression chamber and/or packer unit and/orpick up unit) with a sieve in a bottom wall to allow non-crop materialto pass through the sieve to the outside environment.

The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural baler includinga processing conveyance that is positioned between a pickup roll and amain bale chamber for conveying crop material from the pickup roll tothe main bale chamber. The processing conveyance includes a bottom wallhaving at least one sieve with a plurality of openings extending throughthe sieve. The openings are sized and configured for allowing non-cropmaterial to exit from the at least one processing conveyance through theopenings.

An advantage of the present invention is that non-crop material such asdust, dirt and stones is eliminated from the finished bales.

Another advantage is that sand is eliminated from the finished bales,which might otherwise be converted to glass if the bales are burned forfuel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention,and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and theinvention will be better understood by reference to the followingdescription of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective cutaway view showing the internal workings of alarge square baler;

FIG. 2 is a perspective cutaway view showing a portion of a pickup unitand pre-compression chamber in a baler, showing an embodiment of a sieveof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sieve of thepresent invention which may be used in an agricultural baler;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sieve of thepresent invention which may be used in an agricultural baler;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of one of the ramped aperturesshown on the sieve of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sieve of thepresent invention which may be used in an agricultural baler;

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of one of the ramped aperturesshown on the sieve of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sieve of thepresent invention which may be used in an agricultural baler;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sieve of thepresent invention which may be used in an agricultural baler;

FIG. 11 is a detailed perspective view of one of the holes shown on thesieve of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sieve of thepresent invention which may be used in an agricultural baler;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a sieve of thepresent invention which may be used in an agricultural baler;

FIG. 14 is a detailed perspective view of one of the short slots shownon the sieve of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective cutaway view showing a portion of a pickup unitand pre-compression chamber in a baler, showing another embodiment of asieve of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a perspective cutaway view showing a portion of apre-compression chamber in a baler, showing another embodiment of asieve of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the sieve shown in FIG. 17, showing thefixed slats mounted to the end rails;

FIG. 18 is a detailed perspective view of the sieve shown in FIGS. 17and 18, with a different view showing the fixed slats mounted to the endrails;

FIG. 19 is a detailed perspective view of the sieve shown in FIGS.17-19, showing the mounting of both the fixed slats and swivel slats toone of the end rails; and

FIG. 20 is a sectional schematic view illustrating a stone passingthrough adjacent swivel slats; and

FIG. 21 is a perspective cutaway view showing a portion of a pickup unitand pre-compression chamber in a baler, showing another embodiment of asieve of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views. The exemplifications set out hereinillustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications arenot to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in anymanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown an agricultural harvesting machine in the form of a large squarebaler 10. Baler 10 operates on a two stage feeding system. Crop materialis lifted from windrows into the baler 10 using a pickup unit 12. Thepickup unit 12 includes a rotating pickup roll 14 with tines 16 whichmove the crop rearward toward a packer unit 18. An optional pair of stubaugers (one of which is shown, but not numbered) are positioned abovethe pickup roll 14 to move the crop material laterally inward. Thepacker unit 18 includes packer tines 20 which push the crop into apre-compression chamber 22 to form a wad of crop material. The packertines 20 intertwine the crop together and pack the crop within thepre-compression chamber 22. The pre-compression chamber 22 and packertines 20 function as the first stage for crop compression. Once thepressure in the pre-compression chamber 22 reaches a predeterminedsensed value, a stuffer unit 24 moves the wad of crop from thepre-compression chamber 22 to a main bale chamber 26. The stuffer unit24 includes stuffer forks 28 which thrust the wad of crop directly infront of a plunger 30, which reciprocates within the main bale chamber26 and compresses the wad of crop into a flake. Stuffer forks 28 returnto their original stationary state after the wad of material has beenmoved into the main bale chamber 26. Plunger 30 compresses the wads ofcrop into flakes to form a bale and, at the same time, graduallyadvances the bale toward outlet 32 of main bale chamber 26. Main balechamber 26 and plunger 30 function as the second stage for cropcompression. When enough flakes have been added and the bale reaches afull (or other predetermined) size, knotters 34 are actuated which wrapand tie twine around the bale while it is still in the main bale chamber26. Needles 36 bring the lower twine up to the knotters 34 and the tyingprocess then takes place. The twine is cut and the formed bale isejected from a discharge chute 38 as a new bale is formed.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is shown a portion of a pickupunit 12 and pre-compression chamber 22 in a baler 10, illustrating anembodiment of a sieve 40 of the present invention. Pickup unit 12includes a pickup roll 14 (only the outer housing of which is visible),similar to pickup roll 14 shown in FIG. 1. Pickup unit 12 also includesa packer unit 42 (only a portion of which is shown) with an end wall 44having a bearing mounting location 46 for the packer tines. Positionedat the bottom of the packer unit 42 is a bottom wall 48 defining apick-up plate for crop material and non-crop material which is picked upand moved rearwardly by pickup roll 14.

A pre-compression chamber 22 is positioned rearwardly from the pickupunit 12. The pre-compression chamber 22 includes a bottom wall 50 andpair of side walls 52 (one of which is shown). The packer unit 42 at therear of the pickup unit and the pre-compression chamber 22 togetherdefine a processing conveyance which conveys the crop material from thepickup roll 14 to the main bale chamber 26 (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).

According to an aspect of the present invention, the packer unit 42and/or the pre-compression chamber 22 have a bottom wall 48, 50 with atleast one sieve 40 having some type of openings (e.g., slots, holesand/or ramped apertures) that allow non-crop material to pass through tothe outside environment, avoiding potential damage to the mechanicalcomponents and reducing or eliminating contamination of the finishedbale. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, pre-compression chamber22 has a sieve 40 defined by a multi-part bottom wall 50 includingbottom wall sections 50A, 50B, 50C and 50D. At the leading and trailingedges of bottom wall section 50A are transverse slots 54 and 56 whichallows some of the non-crop material to pass therethrough to the ambientenvironment.

Bottom wall section 50B includes a plurality of holes 58 which arearranged in a plurality of rows of holes. Holes 58 also allow non-cropmaterial to pass therethrough to the ambient environment. Verticallyoriented plates 60 extend through slots (not numbered) formed in bottomwall section 50B and are used to trigger stuffer unit 24 when the cropmaterial is at a predetermined compression value within pre-compressionchamber 22.

Bottom wall sections 50C and 50D are each solid wall sections which abuteach other without a space therebetween. The leading edge of bottom wallsection 50C also abuts the trailing edge of bottom wall section 50Bwithout a space therebetween. Any non-crop material which is conveyedpast bottom wall section 50B thus is conveyed to the main bale chamber26. However, it is obvious that the sections 50A, 50C and 50D can alsobe equipped with holes or slots in the plates to evacuate non-cropmaterial. Likewise, it is also possible to provide for a space betweenthe different bottom wall sections to create a maximum of opportunity toevacuate the non-crop material.

Preferably the bottom wall 48 of packer unit 18 includes one or moresieves as described above to eliminate non-crop material from thefinished bale, alone or in combination with one or more sieves in one ormore bottom wall sections 50A-D of the bottom wall 50. However, as shownin FIGS. 2 and 3, it is also possible to provide one or more optionalsieves 62 (shown in phantom lines) in one or both sidewalls 52 ofpre-compression chamber 22 for the purpose of further eliminatingnon-crop material.

During harvesting of the crop material, crop material and possibly somenon-crop material may both be picked up by pickup roll 14 andtransferred rearwardly toward packer unit 42. Since the bottom wall 48of packer unit 42 is solid in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, thecrop and non-crop material continues rearwardly toward pre-compressionchamber 22. Some of the non-crop material may pass through transverseslots 54 and 56 adjacent to bottom wall section 50A, while more of thenon-crop material may pass through holes 58 in bottom wall section 50B.The crop material is compressed in pre-compression chamber 22 untilvertical plates 60 are depressed and actuate stuffer unit 24. The cropmaterial is then moved from the pre-compression chamber 22 into the mainbale chamber 26.

FIGS. 4-13 illustrate various alternative embodiments of sieves whichmay replace any of the bottom wall section 50A-D shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.In FIG. 4, bottom wall section 64 includes short slots 66 and downstreamlong slots 68. Short slots 66 are arranged in an array of rows andcolumns of slots 66, and long slots 68 are arranged in a singletransverse row of slots 68. Short slots 66 each have a longitudinal axisextending in the fore-to-aft direction. Long slots 68 are configured toreceive the vertical plates 60 (i.e., sensor actuators) therein foractuation of the stuffer unit 24.

In FIGS. 5 and 6, bottom wall section 70 includes ramped apertures 72and downstream long slots 74. Ramped apertures 72 are formed by astamping or punching operation, and have an arcuate shaped openingextending above the upper surface of bottom wall section 70 (see FIG.6). Long slots 74 are configured to receive the vertical plates 60(i.e., sensor actuators) therein for actuation of the stuffer unit 24.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, bottom wall section 76 includes ramped apertures 78and downstream long slots 80. Ramped apertures 78 are formed by astamping or punching operation, and have a frustroconical shaped openingextending above the upper surface of bottom wall section 76 (see FIG.8). Long slots 80 are configured to receive the vertical plates 60(i.e., sensor actuators) therein for actuation of the stuffer unit 24.

In FIG. 9, bottom wall section 82 includes ramped apertures 84 anddownstream long slots 86. Ramped apertures 84 are shaped similar to theramped apertures 78 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. However, the height of theramped apertures 84 is about half the height of the ramped apertures 78,and a first part of the ramped apertures is located above the surface ofthe bottom wall section, while a second part is located under thesurface of the bottom wall section. The overall layout or pattern oframped apertures 84 may differ from the layout shown in FIG. 7. Longslots 86 are configured to receive the vertical plates 60 (i.e., sensoractuators) therein for actuation of the stuffer unit 24.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, bottom wall section 88 includes holes 90 anddownstream long slots 92. Holes 90 are formed by a stamping or punchingoperation, and have a downwardly extending radius of curvature (see FIG.11). Holes 90 have a sparser array configuration upstream from longslots 92, and a denser array configuration between long slots 92. Longslots 92 are configured to receive the vertical plates 60 (i.e., sensoractuators) therein for actuation of the stuffer unit 24.

FIG. 12 is very similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, andincludes bottom wall section 94 with ramped apertures 96 and downstreamlong slots 98. Ramped apertures 96 are formed by a stamping or punchingoperation, and have an overall layout similar to the layout shown inFIG. 5. However, ramped apertures 96 extend in a downward direction frombottom wall section 94 rather than an upward direction. Long slots 98are configured to receive the vertical plates 60 (i.e., sensoractuators) therein for actuation of the stuffer unit 24.

In FIGS. 13 and 14, bottom wall section 100 includes short slots 102 anddownstream long slots 104. Short slots 102 are formed by a stamping orpunching operation, and have a downwardly extending radius of curvature(see FIG. 14). Short slots 102 have a tighter pattern density andcontinuous repeat pattern, when compared with some of the otherembodiments illustrated in the drawings. Long slots 104 are configuredto receive the vertical plates 60 (i.e., sensor actuators) therein foractuation of the stuffer unit 24.

Referring now to FIG. 15, there is shown another embodiment of a sieve106 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the first bottom wallsection 50A and second bottom wall section 50B shown in FIGS. 2 and 3are replaced with a single bottom wall section 108 which is made from aplurality of spaced apart and parallel rods 110 defining long slotstherebetween. The vertical plates 60 (i.e., sensor actuators) can bepositioned between adjacent rods 110, as shown.

FIGS. 16-20 illustrate another embodiment of a sieve 120 of the presentinvention which is positioned at the leading edge of a pre-compressionchamber 22. Sieve 120 generally includes a pair of end rails 122 and aplurality of slats 124. Some of the slats are fixed slats 124A which areimmovably attached to the end rails 122, and the remaining slats areswivel slats 124B which are movably attached to the end rails 122.

More particularly, the fixed slats are 124A are attached in any suitablemanner to the end rails 122, such as by welding, bolting, etc. Theswivel slats 124B are installed in oversized holes 126 in each of theend rails 122 allowing movement of the movable slats 124B. Swivel slats124B are allowed to move or swivel during operation, such that largernon-crop material such as stones can pass through to the ambientenvironment. FIGS. 17 and 18 are top and bottom perspective viewsillustrating the fixed slats 124A in place between the end rails 122.FIG. 19 is another perspective view illustrating the swivel slats 124Bin place between the end rails 122. Each swivel slat 124B is positionedwithin an oversized hole 126 in end rails 122. In the illustratedembodiment, holes 126 are oversized rectangular shaped holescorresponding to the rectangular cross sectional profile at each end ofswivel slats 124B. However, tapered shaped holes can also be used toallow for movement of the swivel slats 124B. In the case of a taperedhole, the top side of the hole will be smaller than the bottom side ofthe hole, to allow a bigger movement of the slats at the bottom sidecompared to the top. That way, stones will not be able to be trapped inbetween the swivel slats because more space is available due to thelarger movement of the swivel slats. Other ways of allowing movement ofswivel slats 124B may also be possible. During a harvesting operation,stones “S” and other similar shaped non-crop material are allowed topass between swivel slats 124B as they swivel within the oversized holes126 in end rails 122 (see FIG. 20). If a stone S is entering between aswivel slat 124B and a fixed slat 124A, only the swivel slat 124B willbe able to move and to provide for the necessary space to allow thestone S to drop out.

Referring now to FIG. 21, there is shown another embodiment of a sieve112 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the bottom wall 48 ofpacker unit 18 defines a pick-up plate with the sieve 112, rather thanbeing a part of the pre-compression chamber 22. Sieve 112 includes aplurality of slots 114 with a longitudinal axis extending in thefore-to-aft direction. Several transverse rows of slots 114 are locatedat the leading edge of the pick-up plate 48, and additional transverserows of slots 114 are located at the trailing edge of the pick-up plate48, with an area in between having no slots.

In the illustrated embodiments, various types of sieves are shown.However, it is also to be understood that multiple sieves may be usedand/or sieves with different types of patterns may be used.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least oneembodiment, the present invention can be further modified within thespirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is thereforeintended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the inventionusing its general principles. Further, this application is intended tocover such departures from the present disclosure as come within knownor customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains andwhich fall within the limits of the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A processing conveyance for conveying cropmaterial, said processing conveyance comprising: a bottom wall having atleast one sieve with at least one opening extending therethrough, eachsaid at least one opening being sized and configured for allowingnon-crop material to exit from said processing conveyance through saidat least one opening; said sieve includes a frame with a pair of endrails and a plurality of slats attached to said end rails, and a portionof said slats are fixed slats which are mounted in a fixed position tosaid end rails, and a remaining portion of said slats are swivel slatswhich are installed in oversized holes in each of said end railsallowing movement of said movable slats.
 2. The processing conveyance ofclaim 1, wherein said oversized holes are rectangular shaped holes. 3.An agricultural harvester, comprising: a pickup unit including a pickuproll; a main bale chamber; and at least one conveyance positionedrearward of said pickup roll and between said pickup roll and said mainbale chamber for conveying crop material from said pickup roll to saidmain bale chamber, said at least one conveyance comprising a bottom wallforming a portion of a lower boundary of a crop flow path between thepickup unit and the bale chamber, said bottom wall having at least onesieve comprising a plurality of slats with at least one openingextending therethrough between the slats, each said at least one openingbeing sized and configured for allowing non-crop material in the cropflow path to exit from said at least one conveyance through said atleast one opening.
 4. The agricultural harvester of claim 3, wherein theplurality of slats comprises movable slats which are movably attached toend rails such that the movable slates can move laterally modifying thesize of the at least one opening.
 5. The agricultural harvester of claim4, wherein said movable slats are swivel-slats installed in oversizedholes in each of said end rails allowing movement of said swivel slats.6. The agricultural harvester of claim 4, wherein said movable slats areinstalled in oversized holes in each of said end rails allowingtransverse movement of said movable slats.